Don’t you know who.i.am?
Backlash after Black Eyed Peas star publicly brands air stewardess as racist
BLACK Eyed Peas singer will.i.am has claimed he was the victim of racism after a flight attendant called police when he didn’t put his laptop away quickly enough.
But his decision to publicly name the stewardess to his 12.8 million Twitter followers sparked a backlash after she was abused by his fans.
The star, a judge on BBC1’s The Voice, was met by five police officers when his flight landed in Sydney yesterday following the run-in. He claimed he had been singled out during the two-and-a-half hour Qantas flight from Brisbane because of his colour.
The 44-year-old said he failed to hear the announcement to put his computer away because he was wearing noise-cancelling headphones.
On Twitter he called the attendant overly aggressive, adding: ‘I don’t want to believe she [is] racist. But she has clearly aimed all her frustrations only at the people of colour.’ After police released him, he said he felt discrimination and that the attendant gave every non-white person a hard time.
He tweeted: ‘Is calling the police on a passenger for not hearing the PA due to wearing noise-cancelling headphones appropriate? If I didn’t put away my laptop “in a rapid 2min time” I’d understand. I did comply quickly & politely, only to be greeted by police. I think I was targeted.’
But the star’s decision to name the attendant prompted widespread criticism. Australian journalist Peter Ford shared abuse the woman received and accused the singer of intimidation and of putting her in danger.
And he questioned the star’s decision to go public, saying: ‘I’m suggesting you start acting like a very successful adult man and file a proper complaint.
Instead you’re using “star power” to get what you want. Grow up.’
Will.i.am later told his fans not to send hate messages to the woman, but did not back down on naming her.
Qantas confirmed there was a ‘misunderstanding’ on board but added: ‘We completely reject the suggestion this had anything to do with race.’
The Australian Federal Police confirmed: ‘Officers met the flight and spoke to crew and passengers. No further action was required.’